Posted on 01/16/2003 4:10:43 PM PST by Dajjal
Byrd, William
born 1543 , Lincoln, Lincolnshire?, Eng. died July 4, 1623 , Stondon Massey, Essex
One of the greatest of English musical composers... English organist and composer of the Shakespearean age who is best known for his development of the English madrigal. He also wrote virginal and organ music that elevated the English keyboard style.
...Byrd was the composer of three masses, for three, four, and five voices respectively, which seem to have been published with some privacy about 1588. All three have recently appeared in modern editions, and increase Byrd's claim to rank as the greatest English composer of his age.
And certainly in the top of greatest Catholic composers as well.
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